Reacting to the deteriorating health condition of Tofig Yagublu, a prominent opposition activist from Azerbaijan, who is serving a nine-year prison term, and who has been on a hunger strike since 1 April, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, said:
“Tofig Yagublu has endured years of politically motivated persecution and ill-treatment by Azerbaijani authorities. This time, not just his freedom, but his health and life are at stake. His condition has been significantly deteriorating, and every day counts.”
“The Azerbaijani authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Tofig Yagublu, who has been imprisoned solely for his outspoken criticism of government, and should urgently provide him access to all necessary health services.”
Background
On 10 March 2025, the Baku Serious Crimes Court sentenced Tofig Yagublu, a leading member of the opposition Musavat Party and the National Council of Democratic Forces, to nine years in prison on charges of “fraud resulting in substantial harm” and “document forgery.” Amnesty International has recognized him as a prisoner of conscience.
Tofig Yagublu has long been a target of Azerbaijani authorities. He has been arbitrarily detained multiple times and has been sentenced to prison on three separate occasions on various politically motivated charges. Tofig Yagublu has been on hunger strike since 1 April to protest against his most recent nine-year sentence. He said, “I am released at 75 years old, is this a life? If it is [not a life], I will choose to die before”.
According to Tofig Yagublu’s family, his health, already weak after years of persecution, detention and ill-treatment, has been rapidly deteriorating. His lawyer, who visited him recently, described him as being very weak, pale, rapidly losing weight and having difficulty walking. Tofig Yagoublu’s health has reportedly been damaged as a result of the ill-treatment he was subjected to during his previous detention. He is suffering from chronic asthma, which has been worsening due to poor prison conditions and lack of adequate medical care. His lawyer’s request for an independent medical examination has so far not been granted.
